‘You left two children to die.’ Two kids killed by California ATV hit-and-run crash

On a holiday weekend campout in California, Jacob Martinez, 12, and friend Christina Bird, 11, took off for a morning ATV ride, their families told news outlets. They never returned.

Jacob and Christina were hit by a UTV at 9 p.m. Saturday, July 2, KABC reported. Jacob died and Christina suffered critical injuries. TheUTV driver fled.

“Why flee? Why flee? You left two children to die,” Daisee Montana, Jacob’s aunt, told KNBC. “My nephew was mangled. He was trampled to death.”

Christina died of her injuries Wednesday, July 6, KCBS reported.

California Highway Patrol investigators are seeking the driver of an orange side-by-side UTV, possibly a 2021 Polaris RZR Turbo S or S4, The Daily Press reported.

The other driver briefly stopped after the crash, then shut off his vehicle’s lights and slowly drove away, KNBC reported.

A passerby found the two children beside Stoddard Wells Road near the Stoddard Valley Off-Highway Recreation Area in Apple Valley north of San Bernardino, KTLA reported.

Investigators ask that anyone with information call Officer Cesar Ramos at the Victorville CHP office at 760-241-1186.

“Please be compassionate and come forward,” family member Cynthia Nunez told KABC. “Don’t hide them.”

An ATV is an all terrain vehicle and a UTV is a utility terrain vehicle.

This story was originally published July 6, 2022 at 11:05 AM with the headline "‘You left two children to die.’ Two kids killed by California ATV hit-and-run crash."